Hi Rod
What a pity for all the work.?
Meranti is not usable for the rudders, as you know by now.?
I specify Ocume for the whole boat. Ocume is a lot more flexible and lighter, by the way.
The start V on the bow has to be as shown in the drawing. In your sketch, the left solution.
Do not fill the bow area for more than 12 mm. A bit less is no problem.
When you can not get Ocume ply., use Birch. Birch is very flexible. For sufficient strength, use one
more layer of glass cloth. On the main stringer, use on each side one layer more of UD carbon.
Success
Bernd
Bernd Kohler